Detained Lekka villagers claimed they are not members of AA

20 Jun 2019

Khin Tharaphy Oo | DMG

20 June, Sittwe

People from Mrauk-U Township’s Lekka village who have been detained on suspicion of affiliations with the AA said that they are not members of the Arakan Army although they have been charged against the Counter Terrorism Law, one of the detainees told the media on 20 June.

“The Myanmar Army came to the monastery we are staying at and arrested us. They tortured us and forced us to confess to being members of the Arakan Army. We are not members of the AA. So, I’d like to request people to help us with our release and explain to authorities that we have been wrongfully accused,” U Nyunt Maung told media when he appeared for their court hearing.

Sittwe Myoma police station opened a case against 24 men from Lekka village for the act of terrorism and terrorist bombings. They were on trial on May 3 and 17 respectively.

After a clash between a Tatmadaw column and the AA troops on 10 April near Lekka village, members of the AA entered into the village, and the Tatmadaw detained 27 suspected men, the Tatmadaw said in its statement.

The Arakan Army denied that the detainees are their members. Their family members also claimed that they are innocent civilians.

“Our husbands are innocent.  They are just farmers. We need them to start cultivation to grow paddy. If they are not here to help with our work, we will face difficulties for earning our living,” said Daw Thein Ma Yay, wife of Ko Khin Maung Soe, one of detained villages.

Their next court hearing is scheduled on 4 July. Some detainees are ill and want to get medical treatment while they’re detained.

While the Tatmadaw were questioning 27 men, three of them died during the interrogation. Then, the Tatmadaw transferred the remaining 24 villagers to police and proceeded to put them on trial. No. 1 Sittwe police station opened their case on 1 May.